"But, I need your help, " said Heather quickly. "I want to escape. I don't belong here. I am not really a dragon. I'm human, just like you."
Kim was a little shocked. She had almost forgotten that Heather was really a human that had been transformed by the Zoo staff. Her appearance was so fearsome, it was easy to forget that a young girl was trapped behind a monstrous facade.
"Sure, Heather. I'll be glad to help. I'll call the police right now, " said Kim, as she pulled out her cell phone.
Heather shook her head sadly. "That won't work. There is no cell phone reception in here. The walls of the cave are too thick."
"Well, I'll just go to the cops as soon as I get out of here, " said Kim.
"And tell them what? That a girl was kidnapped and turned into a dragon by some people at the Zoo? No one will believe you. They'll just think you are crazy, and maybe lock you up, " said Heather.
"Well then I'll just tell them a little girl is being held against her will here. Once they get here, you can explain everything to them, " said Kim in a huff. She was beginning to get very frustrated.
Heather just shook her head. "It still wouldn't work. You just don't understand. The Zoo is powerful, and profitable. They have the city officials and police in their back pocket. How do you think they kept my disappearance a secret? Even if you could find someone honest to believe you, their contacts in the department would move me before you could return" said Heather.
"Well then what do you suggest? " said Kim angrily, fed up with all of Heather's criticisms.
Heather held up her front claws and tugged on the chains restraining them. "Free me, " she said simply.
Kim was shocked. "Heather, I wouldn't know how. Those chains are incredibly thick. And even if you did get free, what would you do then? You may be human on the inside, but you certainly don't look like one on the outside. I don't think there is anywhere you could hide. Where would you possibly go?"
"I don't know, and I don't care. Anything would be better remaining a prisoner here. Just free me of these chains and I can take care of myself. Please, " said Heather, rattling her chains, "as a friend, get me out of these chains. That's all that I ask."
Kim was a little apprehensive. The creature claimed to be human, but she certainly didn't look like one. She had talked with her at length, and she talked like a young girl. But weren't dragons - real dragons - supposed to be tricky? Maybe Heather was a real dragon, and she was just trying to trick Heather into freeing her. What would happen if this massive beast was free to terrorize the city? If she was wrong about Heather, then the Dragon would lay waste to the city, and all of the blood it shed would be on her hands. On the other hand, she didn't think she could live with herself if she left a young girl to toil away as a prisoner in a dank cave, treated no better than an animal.
Heather looked at her with pleading, sad eyes. Kim looked at the time on her phone. She knew that time was running out, and she had to make a decision soon.